Midori Ito to compete in senior event

Associated Press

TOKYO -- Former world champion Midori Ito still has the drive for competitive figure skating.

Ito will enter one of the International Skating Union's senior events for the first time when she competes in Oberstdorf, Germany, from June 8-11.

The 41-year-old Japanese said at a news conference Thursday that "figure skating isn't just a sport for young people."

"People of all ages should try, and in that spirit I decided to compete in this tournament," the 1992 Olympic silver medalist said.

Ito, the 1989 world champion, was the first woman to land a triple axel in competition. She retired from competitive skating in 1996.
http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/figureskating/news/story?id=6618498

She was the 2nd at the competition.
http://www.deu-event.de/results/adult2011/Adult2011_MastersEliteLadiesIIFreeSkating_FS_Scores.pdf

http://www.jiji.com/jc/p?id=20110612131705-0970003
http://www.47news.jp/CN/201106/CN2011061201000273.html

Good for Midori, I'm sure she enhanced this competition as she did all the others she competed in through the years!

Here is video of Midori at the adult competition:)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUljJwPaJKo

What a fab double axel!! And a very nice programme too.... when Midori does more jumping passes, she will win easily! (in this competition the winner did 7 passes - including 2 combinations - while Midori only had 3 - all solo jumps).

Best of all is that she still obviously loves to skate.....

Thank you Sheena

I have heard she has left from skating about 5 or 6 years.
She was plagued by depression and stopped appearing in public.
She lives quietly with her husband in the country.
So, I am very surprised to her 'come back' .

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=154461&l=fcfd954acb&id=106579882761962

Go Midori!!! I hope she does well.